Uptake and degradation of a polypeptide antigen by stimulated and unstimulated macrophages from responder and non-responder mice

Abstract

An increase in the level of acid phosphatase, β-glucuronidase and cathepsin D in macrophages was obtained by cultivating the cells in medium containing high serum concentration and by injecting macrophage donors with thioglycollate. A high level of the three hydrolytic enzymes in the stimulated macrophages does not correlate with a high uptake or degradation of the polypeptide antigen (TG)-PRO--L. Moreover, macrophages with a low level of enzymes (unstimulated cells) pinocytose and degrade (TG)-PRO--L more efficiently than macrophages with a high content of hydrolases. Unstimulated macrophages from responder (SJL) mice pinocytose and degrade (TG)-PRO--L more efficiently than macrophages from the non-responder (DBA/1) animals although the two cell populations had similar levels of hydrolases.